November 1, 1939

Mr. F. A. Philbrick

c/o J. C. Hogg, Esq.

3 Marston Street

Exeter, New Hampshire

Dear Mr. Philbrick:

I have discussed the problem described in your letter with Professor Haagen-Smit and Professor Went. These men feel that your interests lie close to those of the plant physiologists, and they would welcome your presence in the plant physiology laboratory, where you could carry out experiments along the lines you suggest. Dr. Went has long been interested in this particular field of research and has at various times carried out research in this direction. Since the conductivity methods are not satisfactory for studying the translocation and uptake of ions, work has been started here on the use of radioactive isotopes and heavy isotopes, and it is planned to make thermocouple measurements on the transpiration stream. It will be necessary to carry out all these experiments under controlled circumstances. The plant physiologists have recently completed a greenhouse, where just this equipment has been installed with this purpose in mind.

I am enclosing a reprint of a paper published recently by Professor Went dealing with the transport of ions in plant tissues.

The work which is now under way here may not be exactly what you had in mind. There is, however, very close cooperation between the plant physiologists and the chemists here, and I am sure that you could get instruction in microchemical methods from Professor Haagen-Smit if you were to come.

Sincerely yours,

L